Will Pádraig’s Irish eyes end the Open shut-out?

Pádraig Harrington did not hesitate when the inevitable question was asked: Is the Irish Open the title you would most like to win on the European Tour? In one word came a very definite response: YES.

Patriotism and a sense of Irishness have much to do with this but there’s a lot more as well, not least the failure of any one of a very talented home contingent to capture their own championship since John O’Leary at Portmarnock in 1982.

Harrington is at a total loss to explain why this should be so although it was interesting to hear him admit candidly that he had been very impressed with Francesco Molinari’s victory in the Italian Open a couple of weeks ago.